Choosing Shane Watson as Michael Clarke’s deputy, and therefore anointing him as Australia’s future Captain-in-waiting, will be popular with almost everybody down under. He can bat (usually), he can bowl (most of the time), and he’s a nice guy – which is very important.
He’s a straight Aussie bloke from Queensland without tats, without a flashy celebrity girl-friend (though his current lady is nice enough), and without megabuck advertising contracts for poofy or weirdo products. When he had some spare time recently he visited his family and friends in his home town of Ipswich, which had suffered greatly from flooding, and lent a hand rather than driving expensive sports cars and getting pissed.
I will concede that there are other promising young cricketers who might be considered as future captains – Tim Paine for example – but at the moment they are not in the team. One reason for this is that two places are still occupied by Clarke and Ponting, neither of whom deserve a place on current performance, recent century notwithstanding.
Australia’s renewal will not begin until Ponting is finally put out to grass and Clarke stops being a sissy.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Seems a nice boy. Needs a haircut like Neil Roberston (snooker). 🙂
Robertson, you mean? It’s the in look for young men of that age, Janus. Takes hours to get that tousled look. 🙂
That’s the fella. I’ve tried, how I’ve tried! 😦
I love Neil Robertson’s haircut, Janus, except when he beats John Higgins or any other Scot. Then I think he’s a poser. I bet no rugby player bothers with such a hairdo.
And yet Ponting still gets picked in the one day squad for the tour of Bangledesh? How is pup going to manage that? Absurd and I’m disappointed in your lack of wrath Bearsy! you must have been paid off by that number one daughter’s brother in law in law!
But as you say, Watson seems like a nice chap. Normally an English reason to promote them….. 🙂
Damn the non Chrome workstation! You not yuo! And “an” not “and english”! Sorry!
This appeared on the letters page of my local newspaper today, the E.P.Herald.
I have absolutely no idea who Eric Abetz is, or why he thought that this little gem would be of interest to readers here in the Eastern Cape! Does he not have more pressing matters in his intray?
Perhaps Mr. Abetz got his ‘Heralds’ confused or he’s paving the way for a visit, him or Ricky or both?
(Couldn’t find the article online hence this scanned version)